COLORADO SPRINGS — The good thing about the question was that Sky Sox manager Glenallen Hill didn’t choke when asked if pitcher Tyler Matzek could be mentioned in the same breath with top prospects Jon Gray and Eddie Butler.

Hill returned Tuesday to Colorado Springs from spring training in Scottsdale, Ariz., where he watched right-handers Butler and Gray show they’re about ready to jump up to the Rockies.

Matzek, a 23-year-old left-hander, was a first-round draft pick by the Rockies in 2009. He begins this season in Colorado Springs after stops at Asheville, Modesto and Tulsa.

“He (Matzek) has the tools to be mentioned in our top group of prospects,” Hill said. “He’s that talented. I don’t like to compare specific players. I consider that to be a distraction. He should be focused on what he needs to do.”

Matzek didn’t have a smooth climb up the development ladder but finally showed his promise last season at Double-A Tulsa. He finished 8-9 with a 3.79 ERA in 142 innings. But the statistic that thrilled the Rockies was 76 walks.

Matzek’s credentials in the lower minor leagues pointed to a good fastball, but he also was known as the “wild man” among the organization’s young pitchers.

In his first season at Single-A Asheville in 2010, Matzek issued 62 walks in 89 innings. In the early part of the 2011 season, he moved up to Single-A Modesto, but his 46 walks outnumbered his strikeouts (37). He returned home in Mission Viejo, Calif., to work on mechanics with his high school pitching coach. In 2012 at Modesto, Matzek issued 95 walks but also recorded 153 strikeouts. Last year, his 95 strikeouts offset 76 walks.

“When I started out I was 18 and playing against players who were 20, 21 years old,” Matzek said. “I got beat up a little bit both physically and mentally. When I left the organization for a few days, I needed a mental break and some time to work on mechanics. The Rockies worked with me and helped me grow up. I’ve matured some and right now everything seems to be going smoothly. I know that actions speak louder than words. We’ll see how it goes.”

During spring training, Matzek worked mostly out of the bullpen while in the major-league camp. But he’s back as a starter for the upcoming Pacific Coast League season that begins Thursday.

More in Sports

Big Sunday at the sold-out PC, where the Avalanche never trailed in a 5-1 victory over Detroit. Given the score and the circumstance, our game story is all about Nathan MacKinnon and his Hart Trophy candidacy.